Closure for collapsible tubes



P 13, 1933- D. C. MADDUX 2,130,284

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed March 9, 1958 companying drawing in whiclnseparating the cross-heads H from eachother.

30 Fig. 1 is an elevation of a collapsible tube The final forming operation therefore deflects 30 equipped with the novel closure; the cross-heads inwardly to meet at the bottom. Fig. 2 is a magnified side view of the lower After the clip has been applied to the end of portion of Fig. 1; the tube by means of a press, it will firmly cling Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but in crossor hold to the same. with the tube containing '35 section; a filling of a plastic substance, such as dental 35 Fig. 4 is a magnified bottom plan view; cream, shaving cream, cement, etc., "the weight Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the blank of the filling would ordinarily cause those porfrom which the closure is formed; and tions of the tube walls which are opposite the Fig. 6 is a magnified duplication of the lower sections l8 and 22 of the clip to expand and seat 40 portion of Fig. 1. in such sections; or, the slight initial pressure of 40 Patented Sept. 13, 1938 2,130,284

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,130,284 v CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Duane C. Maddux, Highland Park. Ill.

Application March 9, 1938, Serial No. 194,946

13 Claims. (Cl. 221- 60) My invention relates to closures for collapsible the closure. The latter is in the form of a U-- tubes, and deals more particularly with an imshaped clip [4 which is formed from the blank inprovement over the structure patented by John dicated in Fig. 5.

Lacher on February 6, 1934, under No. 1,945,612. The blank of Fig. 5 is a thin sheet of springy One object of the improvement is to construct metal, and the dotted line l5 indicates where it 5 a closure in one piece, whereby to save material is folded into the U form, this fold of course bein its production and labor in its application. ing so close as to make a snug sliding fit when A further object of the improvement is to prothe clip is closed upon the assembled ends l2 vide a resilient'clamp which is limited to the zone and I3 of the tube. The blankis stamped with in which the dispensing of the material in the four substantially triangular openings l6 to de- 10 tube occurs. fine sloping sides ll, medial bafs I 8 and cross- Another object of the invention is to construct heads I! at the inner ends of the latter. The the improved closure with clamping elements sides II are spaced somewhat from the ends of which are adjustable to vary the pressure exerted the cross-heads [9 as indicated at 20; and the 5 on the tube in thezone of discharge. cross-heads are spaced from each other a slight An additional object of the invention is to prodistance as indicated at 2|. vide a pair of clamping elements which apply a After the blank of Fig. 5 has been folded on uniform pressure at all points in the zone of disthe line IS, the cross-heads i9 lieclosely side by charge, whereby to render the ribbon of material side, while the doubled sides I! are somewhat dispensed even and firm however thin it may be. spaced from the ends thereof. However, the 20 A further object of the invention is to design forming operation also includes the arching of the novel closure with clamping means which are the intermediate outer sections 22 of the blank identical on both sides of the tube and situated in outward directions, as indicated particularly to apply equal pressure on such sides. in Fig. 4, the effect of this action being to gather 25 with the above objects in view, and any others the sides I! into contact with the ends of the 25 which may suggest themselves fromthe descripdoubled cross-heads l9, as shown in Fig. 1.

- tion to follow, a better understanding may be had The arching of the sections 22 carries the bars of the improved closure by reference to the acl8 outwardly from the sides of the folded clip,

While the patent previously referred to deals the tube when it is handled or about to be used with a tube which requires closures to be formed will suifice to accomplish the same action. Howat both ends, late developments in collapsible ever, increased pressure will cause the walls of tube manufacture provide a tube of the type inthe tube to bear against the sections [8 and I9 dicated in Fig. 1 or the drawing, which is pressed sufiiciently to separate those on one side of the 45 as a cylindrical cup l0 with a circular closed end tube from the ones on the opposite side, creat- II at one end, so that such end requires no furing a fissure between the tube ends "along the ther attention before the tube is filled. Thus, course of the sections l9, by way of which a thin it remains only to apply a closure to the opposite ribbon of the plastic substance will emerge-from or open end of the tube after the same has been the tube. 50 filled. As originally constituted, the assembly appears As in the previous instance, the open end of in cross-section as inFig. 3, which clearly shows the tube is pressed flat from the sides, as indithat the doubled end of the tube has expanded cated at l2 and I3, whereby to provide a subor assumed the form of the sections l8 and I9,

stantially rectangular base over which to mount so that the tube walls seat therein. Thus, the u pensed-4s generally in an outward direction,

readily procuring the separation of the sections l9. Thus, the ribbon dispensed is fairly thick. However, if a thinner ribbon is desired, the angle of deflection for the sections I9 is made more pronounced. In this case a lesser area is had for transmitted pressure in a lateral direction,-

and the tendency is therefore greater for the sections i9 to cling in the closed state. Therefore they will yield only slightly, permitting but a very thin ribbon to issue from between the two walls in their zone. It is understood that a ribbon of the character dispensed from a tube of the above nature is quite thin even in its heaviest form, so that its further attenuation by the process just described is between slight limits. It is therefore possible to form the clip when folded or applied to suit different requirements of material ribbon thickness, as governed by the consistency of the material, the amount ordinarily dispensed, the surface to be covered or any other incidental considerations.

It will be evident from the above description that I have provided a closure for the purpose specified which is a radical improvement over the one previously considered. First, it is made of a single piece of material. Second, the material is springy metal, so that it is capable of assuming tension without the need of springs or other additional elements. Further, the belt-like bands 22 in which the walls of the tube expand near the bottom provide an integral and medial bar or lever l8 on each side against which tube pressure is exerted during the dispensing action, rendering such pressure centralized and balanced between the sides of the tube. Further, the cross-heads l9 are carried by the medial sections 18 like T-heads, receiving their stress from the adjusted as to relative angle by machine, or

even by hand, if the feed is desired to be changed. Altogether the integral and compact nature of the clip enables it to maintain its holdfirmly;

and its stifi and springy property causes it to resist deforming and weakening strains which may prejudice the uniformity of the feed or alter the firm and even character of the material ribbon as it is dispensed.

While I have described the novel improvement along more or less specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I desire to consider all such minor changes and refinements as coming within the scope an spirit of the appended claims. 4

I claim:

1. A dispensing closure for collapsible tubes comprising a U-shaped metal clip adapted to receive in its fold the flattened terminal wall portions of a tube, said clip having an opening adjacent the medial zone of said wall portions, and parts of the clip serving in said zone as clamps for the wall portions to normally keep them in closed contact.

2. The structure of claim 1, said parts being constituted -to become tensioned by the separation of the wall. portions.

3. The structure of claim 1, said parts being adjustable to positions imparting diflerent degrees of tension from the separation-of the wall portions.

4. The structure of claim 1, the clip being of spring material, whereby to render said parts capable of tension on the separation of the wall portions.

-5. The structure of claim 1, the. clip, havin band portions along courses substantially parallel to its fold, and said parts comprising extensions of such band portions.

6. The structure of claim 1, the" clip having band portions along courses substantially parallel to its fold, and said parts comprising extensions of such band portions in the direction of the fold.

7. The structure of claim 1, the clip having band portions along courses substantiallyparallel to its fold, and said parts comprising extensions of such band portions in the direction of the fold and terminating thereat.

8. A dispensing closure for collapsible tubes comprising a U-shaped metal clip adapted to receive in its fold the flattened terminal wall portions of a tube, said clip having its fold interrupted opposite the medial outlet zone of said wall portions, the clip having band portions along courses substantially parallel to its fold, and extensions of said band portions formed to fill the space of interruption in the fold, such extensions serving in said zone as clamps for the wall portions to normally keep them in closed contact. 9. The structure of claim 8, said extensions being directed from the middle of the band portions to points approximately in line with the fold.

10. The structure of claim 8, said extensions being bars directed from the middle of the band portions and enlarged with cross-heads filling the interruptions in the fold and extending to points approximately in line with the same.

11. The structure of claim 8, the band portions being outwardly arched from the planes of the clip sections, said extensions being bars directed from the middle of the band portions and spaced accordingly from the planes of the related clip sections, and the bars being enlarged with inwardly deflected cross-heads filling the interruptions in the fold and extending in converging relation to points in line with the same.

12. The structure of claim 8, the band portions being outwardly arched from the planes of the clip sections, said extensions being bars directed from the middle of the band portions and spaced accordingly from the planes of the related clip sections, thebars being enlarged with inwardly defiected'cross-heads filling the internmtions in the fold and extending in'conv'erging re lation to points in line with the same, and the cross-heads being adjustable to different angles for changes of tension therein in response to the separation of the wall portions.

13. The structure of claim 1, said clip being in one piece.

DUANE C. MADDUX. 

